Exco: Selangor gov't hasn't received federal funds since 2008

The Local Government and Urban Well-being Ministry's move to spike approvals for local government projects in parliamentary constituencies where BN lost, appears to have little or no impact in Selangor.

Selangor executive councillor in charge of local government Ean Yong Hian Wah said this is because the state government has not received federal funds since 2008.

He said federal funds are instead channeled to the Prime Minister's Department's Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU)

"(So) in BN states, local governments will receive funding from federal.

"(But) for opposition states, ICU will carry out federal projects, not local governments," he told Malaysiakini.

The DAP Seri Kembangan assemblyperson said the state has been funding most of the infrastructure projects.

"We don't know how many federal projects there are in Selangor because they don't share data with us," he added.

In a letter issued by Local Government Department director general Abu Bakar Johar, dated March 17, a directive is given scrapping all BP 1 projects, which according to the ministry's website, refers to small scale infrastructure projects at the local council level.

Ean said the Selangor government did not receive the letter, but he had seen it being circulated since last month.

However, Penang executive councillor in charge of local government Chow Kon Yeow confirmed receiving the letter.

Local Government and Urban Well-Being Minister is Noh Omar, who is also Selangor BN chief.

Selangor fell to the opposition in the 2008 general election and the opposition retained control of the resource-rich state in the 2013 polls.

Malaysiakini has contacted Noh for comment.- Mkini